Irish Cattle
Breeding Federation

Progeny Testing the Young Bulls on a “Targeted” Set of Herds

 

To progeny test 100 young bulls, 70,000 doses of semen are required to be used across a small number of ‘targeted’ herds, with the aim to obtain 100 milk-recorded heifers. Progeny testing bulls on a select group of targeted herds has the desired effect of;

• increasing the reliability of the bull’s proof, and
• allowing more entitlements to be given to participating herd-owners.

As part of the “targeted” herd programme, herd-owners receive a certain number of straws from a group of high EBI young bulls (e.g. EBI of bulls for Spring 2007 programme is €100 (Evaluation Date: 2007 1st Qtr)). The advantage of having semen from a group of bulls is that you “spread the risk” with progeny testing.

Test bulls and semen allocation.

At the start of the season there is a list of test bulls that potentially could be part of the G€N€ IR€LAND® programme for that coming AI season. It is not necessarily that each of these bulls will be tested. This will depend on the bull’s latest genetic evaluation indexes, passing semen quality tests, and providing enough straws for inclusion in the programme.

Programmes available

Depending on what young bulls have been purchased by the various AI organisations there could be a number of programmes available based on the breed of the bulls. There will always be a Holstein/Friesian programme but going forward hopefully other breeds will be included.

Cost of straws

There is a cost of €5 per straw, which will be charged directly by the organisation providing the AI service. However, for each straw used during the specified AI season and recorded on the ICBF database, the cost of that straw will be reimbursed (i.e. €5/recorded test bull insemination).
Herd-owners that use the technician service will still incur the cost of the ‘arm service’ and visit fee. 

Test Group allocation

Herd-owners do NOT get a choice of the young test bulls. The allocation of bulls per pack are chosen at random, but will represent a range of sires and have an average EBI as close to the overall group as possible (i.e. for Spring 2007 €100).
Test straws are available in packs of 35 straws (5 bulls x 7 straws). This is the minimum amount any one herd can obtain.
There is no particular requirement on how these straws are used.  This is up to the discretion of the herd-owner.
All straws must be used in the current season to be eligible for reimbursement of costs.

WHAT IS IN IT FOR THE FARMER?

Progeny testing herds will be reimbursed the costs associated with collecting and providing data to the national cattle breeding database. These payments will be made throughout the duration of the programme based on the data recorded on the ICBF database. The Euro value and conditions of payment are outlined below.

• €5 per recorded test bull insemination on the ICBF database:

To be paid at the end of the year after mating has been completed.

• €10 per recorded calving sired by a test bull, on the ICBF database:

Payments made for both male and female calves with test bull parentage validated to a recorded insemination. Payment will be dependent on the recording of relevant calving data, i.e. mortality, calving difficulty, and corresponding insemination date. A DNA sample is also required for all calves born in the herd (see Tagging and DNA section over-page).

• €25 per progeny test heifer milk recorded as a 2-year-old:

Payment is dependent on the information recorded on the ICBF database in relation to heifer replacements. This includes data on all progeny test heifers and relevant contemporary animals for; (i) milk performance, (ii) female fertility, (iii) maternal calving, and (iv) linear scoring of animals selected by ICBF.

• Free linear scoring of 50% of all progeny test heifers and a sample of contemporaries:

Herds for linear scoring will be selected by ICBF, with herds containing greater numbers of test bull daughters being targeted, so not all herds will be scored.

• €1,000 for each of the top 10 data recording herds, based on the level and quality of data recording.

There is also the added benefits of:

• Using top sires of the future before they are sold nationally.
• Potential bull mothers in the future.
• Provision of Inbreeding Reports

 

REQUIREMENTS OF A PROGENY TESTING HERD

In order to avail of the reimbursement of costs, participating herds have to meet certain conditions regarding test bull usage and data recording.

It is essential that these herd-owners:

1. Use ALL their allocated G€N€ IR€LAND straws that AI season
2. Full participation in Animal Events i.e. record all inseminations and calving outcomes, including Calving Performance data, etc.
3. Participation in approved milk recording  - Milk record their 2-year-olds approximately 4 times in their first lactation.

Straw Usage and Recording Inseminations

There is no particular requirement on how test bull straws are used.  This is up to the discretion of the herd-owner. Just as long as all straws are used in the current season to be eligible for reimbursement of costs.
ALL inseminations need to be recorded for the purpose of genetic evaluations for male fertility & gestation length. This includes whether the cow repeats or holds to that service.
This data can be sent in at the herd-owners discretion, just as long as ICBF have all serve dates on the database at the end of the season.

Methods for recording inseminations:

There are several methods of recording inseminations on the database.

• Online recording through ICBF website – log-on using Username and Password. Go to Event Recording → Record AI/Natural Service, and enter details accordingly.
• Farm Computer Packages
• Technician AI handhelds - Those herds that use the technician service, where their technician does not use the new handheld system, will need to ensure they get their insemination data to ICBF via one of the other methods.
• Animal Events book
• Breeding Charts

Tagging and DNA testing

DNA samples are required for all calves born in a progeny-testing herd from 2008 onwards.The process of collecting a DNA sample is simple and will not require any extra work on behalf of the herd-owner.
Specific tags will be provided to each herd-owner involved in the programme. These new tags will replace the tag currently used, at no extra cost.
Attached to each of these new tags is a small capsule, which is coded with the same ID that is on the tag. At the time the calf is tagged, a small sample of the calf’s ear will be punched into this and sealed. Once complete the capsule is easily removed from the tag and is ready for posting.

A random selection of these samples will be DNA profiled.

The process of collecting a DNA sample is simple and will not require any extra work on behalf of the herd-owner.

Specific tags will be provided to each herd-owner involved in the programme. These new tags will replace the tag currently used, at no extra cost.

Attached to each of these new tags is a small capsule, which is coded with the same ID that is on the tag. At the time the calf is tagged, a small sample of the calf’s ear will be punched into this and sealed. Once complete the capsule is easily removed from the tag and is ready for posting.

A random selection of these samples will be DNA profiled. This is to establish a level of accuracy in regards to the information that ICBF is receiving.

2.1 Using a group of bulls and associated reliability

The advantage of having semen from 10 bulls is that you “spread the risk” associated with using unproven sires.

The reliability of the group of 10 young sires is equivalent to that of a proven sire, at 93%.  An analysis of all proven AI sires on the database with a reliability of 90%, shows that within a group of bulls were the average EBI is €94 you would expect the range to be from €72 to €116.  In other words, of the 10 bulls received as a member of the progeny test programme, individual bulls within the group will increase or decrease in EBI once proven, but the overall average of the group will generally be within this range.